As Israel prepares to enter a land with many abominable practices, Moses explains how to recognize a true prophet of God. This prophet will serve as God’s spokesperson, much like Moses himself.
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet” (Deuteronomy 18:15).
Scholars find four key aspects to the role of a prophet in this chapter.
(1) True prophecy comes from divine initiative.
“This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’
Then the Lord replied to me, ‘They are right in what they have said'” (Deuteronomy 18:17-17).
(2) A true prophet follows God’s example. Moses was a mediator and showed God’s will.
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command (Deuteronomy 18:18).
(3) A true prophet speaks God’s message, which is why they can say, “This is what the Lord says” (verse 18).
(4) A true prophet carries God’s authority and speaks in His name.
Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable (Deuteronomy 18:19).
Above are the qualifications for a prophet. Most of us will never become prophets. However, we have the responsibility to listen to the prophet’s words and follow their guidance.
Sadly, as we read through the Bible, we see that God’s people often chose to follow their own desires instead of listening to the prophets. Israel suffered through the exile because it chose to follow its own will instead of God’s direction.
What are the prophets telling us today? When was the last time you read the Old Testament prophets or key passages where Jesus speaks prophetically? How did you respond?
It’s crucial to listen to God’s word and accept it as coming directly from Him, rather than following our self-centered desires.
False Prophets
The Israelites need to know that some who claim to be prophets of God will be deceivers. A false prophet speaks words not authorized by God or speaks for a god other than Yahweh.
But any prophet who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’
You may say to yourself, ‘How can we recognize a word that the Lord has not spoken?’ If a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord but the thing does not take place or prove true, it is a word that the Lord has not spoken.
The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; do not be frightened by it (Deuteronomy 18:20-22).
Here are some ways we can discern whether to listen to someone claiming to speak for God or not.
(1) God demands truth, meaning the prophetic word must match historical realities.
By examining chapters 13 and 18, a true prophet’s words will be confirmed by history, align with Yahweh’s teachings, and insist on worshiping only Yahweh.
(2) To verify a biblical prophet, their message must align with the rest of scripture.
Imagine an upside down triangle standing on its top point. Some people take one verse of scripture and try to make it support the entire Bible.
It’s better to look at a triangle in its proper form and interpret one verse based on everything we read.
The same goes for those with a prophetic word. It should align with all that God says, not just a few favorite verses.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 